Sage is one of those herbs that makes every dish just a bit more autumnal and you should make a point to have it on hand throughout the season. To get the most fall flavor from the herb, you have to know how to buy and store it properly.

According to Bon Appetit, you want to look for fresh leaves that are perky, pale green, and fragrant. Once you’ve found a fine specimen, store the herb wrapped loosely in a damp paper towel, inside an unsealed plastic bag in the fridge. If you’re worried about some of the leaves going bad before making it through the whole bunch, consider drying your own (the full tutorial for which can be found here.)